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LD 687

An Act To Assert State Ownership Over Ocean Waters Up To 12 Nautical Miles And Submerged Lands And Marine Resources Up To 24 Nautical Miles Off The State'S Coast And To Direct The Attorney General To Study That Ownership

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Scott Cyrway and 4 co-sponsors

LD 687 would declare Maine owns ocean waters to 12 NM and submerged lands/resources to 24 NM, and requires the Attorney General to study the legal basis and implications.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#coastalwaters #marineresources #statesovereignty
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Bill Summary · LD 687

Summary — LD 687: An Act To Assert State Ownership Over Ocean Waters Up To 12 Nautical Miles And Submerged Lands And Marine Resources Up To 24 Nautical Miles Off The State's Coast, And To Direct The Attorney General To Study That Ownership

Overview

  • Bill number: LD 687
  • Title: An Act To Assert State Ownership Over Ocean Waters Up To 12 Nautical Miles And Submerged Lands And Marine Resources Up To 24 Nautical Miles Off The State's Coast And To Direct The Attorney General To Study That Ownership
  • Sponsor: Sen. Martin of Oxford
  • Committee: Marine Resources
  • Status: Dead for the session. Placed in Legislative Files pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 on March 20, 2025.
  • Introduced/Referral dates: Introduced February 20, 2025; Referred to Marine Resources February 20, 2025; Reported Out AWD March 7, 2025.

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks to assert state sovereignty over:
- Ocean waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from Maine’s coastline.
- Submerged lands and marine resources extending up to 24 nautical miles from the coast.
Additionally, it directs the Maine Attorney General to study the ownership and related legal implications of such asserted state ownership.

Key provisions (as described in available materials)

  • Declare or establish state ownership of:
    • Ocean waters up to 12 nautical miles offshore.
    • Submerged lands and marine resources up to 24 nautical miles offshore.
  • Commission the Attorney General to conduct a study on the ownership and legal basis for this asserted state control, and presumably report findings (text available does not specify a reporting deadline, but implies a study mandate).

Affected entities and potential impact

  • State government and regulatory authorities: Would gain a framework for asserting jurisdiction over nearshore and some offshore areas, pending legal conclusions from the AG’s study.
  • Coastal industries and activities: Potential implications for commercial fishing, mineral or energy extraction, offshore infrastructure, and maritime commerce if ownership boundaries affect access, licensing, or public trust resources.
  • Federal-state relations: The proposal would intersect with federal jurisdiction and the Outer Continental Shelf; the bill would likely prompt questions about compatibility with federal law and international/commercial law.
  • General public and mariners: Possible changes to navigation rights, coastal resource management, and public access, depending on how ownership is defined and implemented.

Fiscal notes and financial impact

  • Fiscal note status: No fiscal note required (as indicated by the Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement).
  • Notes on data: Document identifies this as a concept draft with insufficient data to determine precise fiscal effects.

Procedural history and current status

  • Referred to the Committee on Marine Resources on February 20, 2025.
  • Reported Out – AWD on March 7, 2025.
  • Placed in Legislative Files (Dead) on March 20, 2025, under Joint Rule 310.3. This indicates the bill did not advance to enactment in the current session.

Timeline to watch (for context)

  • If revived or reintroduced in a future session, it would likely require:
    • A more detailed legal and fiscal analysis,
    • Clear legislative language on jurisdictional scope, enforcement, and relationship to federal law,
    • Potential stakeholder input from coastal communities, industry, and federal authorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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